Anti-Kudankulam protestrs to fast indefinitely

Core committee members of the People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) and some villagers will go on an indefinite fast Friday in support of their demands, said an activist.

"Around 15 people will start an indefinite hunger strike from Friday onwards," core committee member M. Pushparayan told IANS over phone from Idinthakarai.

For the past 900 days, PMANE has been spearheading the anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) movement in Tirunelveli district, around 650 km from here.

The Nuclear Power Corp of India Ltd (NPCIL) is setting up two 1,000 MW Russian reactors at Kudankulam in Tirunelveli. The total outlay for the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP) is over Rs.17,000 crore.

The first unit has started power generation and has been connected to the southern grid. Work on commissioning the second unit is in progress.

The NPCIL is also planning to set up two more units at Kudankulam which is also opposed by PMANE.

According to PMANE, the performance of the first two reactors should be tested by independent scientists.

People should also be told whether the 15 conditions laid down by the Supreme Court last year has been complied with.

The other demands of PMANE are making public the site evaluation report, safety analysis report, VVER Reactors Performance Report and the emergency preparedness report.

The PMANE also demands withdrawal of 360 cases filed against around 270,000 people in the area.

The anti-nuclear power movement also urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to reject the setting up of the third and fourth units at Kudankulam.